(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan legislation to expand research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans.

Named after the daughter of a toxic-exposed veteran battling spina bifida, a condition related to her father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, the Senators’ Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act would establish a multiagency task force to conduct research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. This research would be authorized through the Toxic Exposure Research Working Group, which was established under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

“When we send our fighting men and women off to war, we tell them we’re going to take care of them if they come home changed,” said Tester. “The same goes for their loved ones, especially those who are now battling health conditions connected to their parents’ toxic exposure during their military service. Children of veterans like Molly from Bozeman have been fighting these toxic exposure-related health conditions for decades, and our bill will rightly commission first-of-its-kind research into diagnosing and treating their conditions, leveraging a critical research work group created by the PACT Act.” 

“We must continue our commitment to understanding the health challenges faced by the descendants of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins,” said Rubio. “This bill aims to empower the Toxic Exposure Research Working Group to conduct more vital research related to toxic exposure.”

Molly Loomis is the daughter of an U.S. Navy veteran exposed to Agent Orange during his service on the U.S.S. Ogden, who passed in 2013 from an Agent Orange-related illness, bladder cancer. She served as a National Park Service climbing ranger and rescue specialist until medical conditions related to her father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam left her unable to work both in the field and out. When she applied for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA)s Spina Bifida Program, VA refused to accept her condition as being related to her father’s service.

Veterans exposed to toxins during their military service are more likely to develop certain medical conditions, such as rare cancers, heart conditions, and chronic lung ailments, as a direct result of their toxic exposure. Descendants of these toxic-exposed veterans are also likely to experience conditions, such as spina bifida, related to their parents’ or grandparents’ exposure to toxic chemicals. While there has been some research on the link between birth defects and generational exposure to toxins and chemicals, there has yet to be comprehensive, government-led studies into the effects of toxic exposure on descendants of toxic-exposed veterans. The Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act would commission first-of-its-kind, landmark research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans, enabled by the PACT Act.

Veterans Service Organizations and stakeholders support the Senator’s legislative effort to expand research on health conditions faced by descendants of toxic-exposed veterans, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).

“I try putting myself in my Dad’s shoes—any parent’s shoes—and how it might feel to face toxic exposure health issues. But then, to learn your exposure could have resulted in the birth defects, disabilities, illness, even shortened lifespans of your own children, perhaps grandchildren too?” said Molly Loomis, daughter of a toxic-exposed veteran battling medical conditions related to her father’s military toxic exposure and namesake of the bill. “I don’t think I can fully imagine the nightmare of that. Not everyone chooses to protect their country, but I’d say everyone wants to protect their children. By committing to the latest science and following through with the related, relevant care, this bill would be a tremendous step towards upholding the responsibility of supporting service members and their families.”

“The historic passage of the PACT Act brought justice to millions of our nation’s veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their military service,” said DAV National Commander Nancy Espinosa. “However, evidence exists showing toxic exposures can have generational repercussions for family members. That’s why DAV is proud to support the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act in order to ensure the proper research is conducted on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances. We applaud Sen. Tester and Sen. Rubio for their leadership in introducing this important bipartisan legislation.”

“The effects of toxic exposures last long after service members take off the uniform. Unfortunately, sometimes family members may have some of these effects passed on to them,” said the VFW National Legislative Director Pat Murray. “The VFW supports this proposal which would research the aftereffects of toxins on decedents of service members. We thank Senators Tester and Rubio for leading this effort.” 

“Vietnam Veterans of America fully supports The Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act of 2024, and thank Senators Tester and Rubio for introducing this important piece of legislation,” said VVA National President Jack McManus. “Our veterans, their children, and their grandchildren have waited far too long for answers to their health conditions believed to be a result of military toxic exposures. When enacted, this important research will provide the much-needed science regarding the generational legacy of toxicants.”